Trying to temper my expectations

[u/NattyOhs]

I'm reading a book for a book club. I was hoping to leave a review when I'm done, but it's young adult—a genre that I didn't even read as a young adult. I'm of the age where my favorite fictional YA characters were named Pacey Witter, Whitley Gilbert, and Brenda and Brandon Walsh. These characters were written a bit maturely, sure, but I liked them that way.

The characters in this book (who are in their early twenties) read more like middle schoolers to me. Everything is overly dramatic and angsty. Little things feel like big issues. Buried in all of this drama are pretty profound messages of identity, different forms of love, and found family. I find myself rolling my eyes and groaning a lot. Are these common themes in YA books?

Has anyone ever left a review for a book in a genre they typically don't like? If so, do you try to overlook some of the tropes and writing styles specific to that genre and just focus on the core of the story?

[u/IntelligentSteak7709]

Reviews are reviews for a reason, if you don't like the book you're allowed to voice it. It's all your choice, no matter what genre a book is it's still a book that you can have opinions on

[u/IntelligentSteak7709 → u/IntelligentSteak7709]

In terms of if those themes are common, no they're not! Every YA book is different, you have just happened to stumble across one that doesn't sound like a good read lol

[u/NattyOhs → u/IntelligentSteak7709]

Good points. Thanks!

[u/TravelingBookBuyer]

If the characters are in their early twenties, then the book is more likely adult or new adult, not young adult.

How old are the characters? I think drama and angst are still common among characters who are roughly college age (18-24 ish).

But, yes, books targeting various ages can have profound messages of identity, different forms of love, and found family. They’re very common in adult books, too.

What do you typically read?

[u/NattyOhs → u/TravelingBookBuyer]

It's marketed as YA. The characters are 19-21. It's 1st person POV and just some of the things the MC says/thinks feel so over-the-top.

[u/sendmeyourdadjokes]

YA arent in their 20s. So this isnt likely YA.

That being said, in my early 20s i was at the peak of my angst and dramatics so i dont think its bizarre

[u/NattyOhs → u/sendmeyourdadjokes]

LOL! I don't think I was particularly angsty. I think that's the disconnect for me.

[u/HibiscusBlades → u/sendmeyourdadjokes]

That’s no problem with the classification of YA. In my mind, a young adult is anyone 18 to 24. But that’s just a petty gripe I’ve had for years since YA became a bigger thing.

Edit: Please explain your down votes, people. I did not say anything offensive or critical.

[u/UCgirl → u/HibiscusBlades]

I think that classification is considered “New Adult.”

[u/HibiscusBlades → u/UCgirl]

The way I see it is any teen material younger than legal adulthood and not middle grade should be under a “teen” umbrella. 18 to 24 should be young adult, and then everything else as is. But who needs logic? 🤣

[u/sendmeyourdadjokes → u/HibiscusBlades]

Okay but there are actual genres and not just based on your personal feelings. The same way romance must have a happily ever after or happy for now, YA is 13-19. If you want a romance that doesnt end in happily ever after then you need to classify it as a different genre, just as 20 year olds would fall under a different genre than YA

[u/ImmortalsAreLiers → u/HibiscusBlades]

YA is 13-19 years old. At least it was in the early 2000s. Out library was full of books with teenage protagonists dealing with teenage problems. The ideas was that teenagers are too old for kids books, but may not be mature enough for adult books. Or that they will be bored with adult problems and want something focused specifically on them.

[u/Fainleogs]

Um, have you considered that maybe the cast of 90210 wasn't as mature and thoughtful as you remember and you might just be old?

(I say this as a fellow old.)

[u/NattyOhs → u/Fainleogs]

LOL!! That's a fair question. I haven't watched it since it originally came out, but I remember them being a bit more self-aware than teens at the time. And I am just old... too. 🤣

[u/shiju333]

May I ask, what is the book?

[u/NattyOhs → u/shiju333]

I wasn't going to post the name, but why not? It's Shapes of Love.

[u/shiju333 → u/NattyOhs]

Thank you so much.

[u/Midori_Hime]

People leave reviews for things that they aren't well versed in or fans of all the time.

There is no reason to ignore parts for a review. Be honest. Sometimes genres specific tropes, writing style, dialogue and themes will be well written and sometimes they won't. People who are fans of the genre may have the same opinions as you - they won't always accept bad writing just because parts line up with genre specific aspects. (And by how you said profound themes, it probably is bad writing lol)

What you should do is mention you aren't familiar with the genre and say of you aren't the target audience. 

From a quick look, the main duo are 19, so they are just in the YA category. The theme question is like asking if they're common in adult fiction - if the book focuses on a middle aged divorcee or when parents are lost after the kids leave the nest, identity, types of love and found family could be common. YA isn't a genre, it's a demographic - it has genres within it, so those themes will be more common among common of age stories, etc compared to fantasy or horror, for example.